Ukraine’s Donbas, consisting of Donetsk and Luhansk, is at the heart of Moscow’s goals. An industrial powerhouse in the Soviet era, it also has rich farmland, important rivers and a coastline on the Sea of Azov.

Trump ruled out an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine after his summit with Russian leader Putin, saying a direct peace agreement would end the war.

Any changes to Ukraine's territory would have to be settled in Ukraine by a referendum, according to the country's constitution. "Issues of altering the territory of Ukraine are resolved exclusively by an All-Ukrainian referendum,

Much of the talk between President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, today will center on whether Ukraine is willing to give up land to end the war with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has long sought to control the four Ukrainian regions of Luhansk,